How Much Does It Cost to Make a Promotional Video? (And Is It Worth It?)
These days, it feels like every brand has a slick promotional video. And honestly, there’s a good reason for that. A good video can grab someone’s attention way faster than a blog post or an ad ever could.
But if you’ve ever looked into making one, you’ve probably asked yourself:
“Okay, but how much is this going to cost me?”
The short answer?
It depends.
But most promotional videos cost somewhere between $1,000 and $15,000. There’s a lot that goes into that number though, so let’s break it down.
First off, why even bother with a promo video?
You might be thinking — isn’t video just another marketing trend?
Not really.
People love videos because they’re easy to consume. And when it’s done right, a short video can do a lot more than just show off a product — it can make people feel something.
It can connect them to your brand.
The best ones are short (think under two minutes), emotional, and leave viewers wanting more — ideally nudging them to take some kind of action, like clicking your link or checking out your website.
So… What actually affects the cost?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but here are the big things that will impact the price:
How complicated the video is (simple vs. multi-location shoot)
The length (30 seconds? 2 minutes?)
How much time you spend filming and editing
How many people you need (camera crew, sound tech, actors, etc.)
What equipment you use (renting fancy gear isn’t cheap)
Where you shoot (travel costs add up fast)
Basically, the more people, gear, and time you need, the higher the cost.
Should you hire a production team or do it yourself?
You’ve got two choices:
Bring in the pros
Handle it in-house
Hiring a professional production team usually gives you a much smoother experience — better equipment, better lighting, better editing.
But of course, it’s more expensive. Most businesses end up spending between $2,000 and $15,000 when they hire a team.
If you’re trying to save money, doing it yourself is an option. Just keep in mind that buying or renting good cameras, lights, mics, and editing software isn’t cheap either (think $1,000 to $10,000 easily). Plus, you’ll need someone who actually knows how to use all that gear.
What are the main stages of making a video?
1. Pre-Production
This is where the planning happens — brainstorming ideas, writing the script, scheduling the shoot.
Scriptwriters usually charge around $50–$150 an hour, so you’re looking at $600–$1,800 for a basic script.
2. Production
This is filming day (or days). You’ll need a team — director, camera operator, sound crew, maybe actors.
Daily rates per person can run from $200 to $2,000 depending on experience.
3. Post-Production
After filming wraps, it’s time to edit. This covers cutting footage, adding music, color correction, sound effects, voiceovers — all the good stuff.
Post-production usually costs somewhere between $500 and $2,500 if you’re not doing any crazy special effects.
There could also be extra costs — like studio rentals ($500–$3,000/day) and transportation or meals for the crew (up to $500/day).
Some extra things that might cost you
A few more details that people often forget:
Voiceovers can cost $250 to $3,000 depending on who you hire
Custom music or sound design can start at $1,000
Distribution (getting your video seen) costs vary based on your strategy and audience size
What if you want an animated video instead?
Animation is a different ballgame.
Animated promotional videos usually cost between $2,000 and $12,000. It depends on the style, how detailed you want it, and how long it is.
